A simple pedestrian bridge over the Thiou river in Annecy, France has been transformed into a captivating space for rest and reflection through an innovative architectural installation called KAPIA. Created by design studio GRRIZ for the Annecy Paysages 2025 festival, the site-specific timber and mirror structure spans the Sainte-Thérèse du Québec footbridge, converting what was once just a crossing point into a destination for pause, encounter, and contemplation.

The project draws its inspiration from the traditional kapia structures found on Ottoman bridges throughout the Balkans. These historical architectural elements served as civic spaces at the center of bridges, designed specifically for community exchange and dialogue. GRRIZ recognized that the existing footbridge already had two fixed benches positioned at its midpoint, subtly suggesting a place for rest, and decided to enhance this potential by creating an architectural canopy that would define the space, provide shelter, and deepen visitors' connection with the surrounding landscape.

The entire structure is constructed from Douglas fir timber, assembled as a lightweight frame that rests gently on the existing bridge infrastructure without altering its original geometry or disrupting pedestrian and bicycle traffic. This reversible installation approach presented significant technical challenges for the GRRIZ creative team, requiring precise engineering details to securely anchor the intervention while fully respecting the existing bridge structure. The timber elements are finished with a distinctive coral-toned protective coating, carefully selected to create visual harmony with both the urban architecture and the natural vegetation of the riverside location.

The most striking feature of the installation is its upper canopy, which is clad in mirrored dibond panels – a reflective composite material that captures and refracts the ever-changing qualities of the sky, light, and water below. These mirrored surfaces create shifting, almost painterly reflections that continuously evolve with changing weather conditions and the movement of people passing through the space. This dynamic element introduces an expressionist dimension to the work, making each visit a unique visual experience.

KAPIIA functions as both a practical amenity and a work of functional sculpture, creating what designers describe as a "suspended threshold" that is open to all while belonging to no one in particular. The installation encourages pedestrians and cyclists to slow their pace, take a seat, observe their surroundings, and reconnect with both the river environment and the city beyond. Through its minimal geometric design and sophisticated play of reflections, the intervention fundamentally redefines how people perceive this familiar passage, transforming it into a shared space dedicated to attention and imagination.

The project was developed following an invitation from curator David Moinard and was produced by Bonlieu Scène nationale Annecy. The installation demonstrates how thoughtful design intervention can breathe new life into existing infrastructure, creating meaningful public spaces that enhance community interaction and environmental awareness without requiring major structural changes to historic urban elements.